Feeding mechanism for sewing machines



June 9, 1925.

C. H. LUCY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 11, 1919 2.Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR 5% 2%RNEY WITNESSES:

June 9, 1925.

c. H. LUCY FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 11, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WEWJ WITNESSES:

INVENTOR flaw/r. 8V

TTORNEY Patented June 9, 1925.

* UNITED STATES PA T NT; 1 orr cs CALVIN n. LUCY, or BALTIMORE, M RYLA D, ass'fenon To me SINGER manna: reams COM ANY,aconronnrronor new messy; l 1

nnmnennonamsn on snwine Mac-mites.

Application filed. Marehll, 1919. seri ai n 281351. it

To all whom/it may coacem: v

Belit known that I, CALVIN H hLUoYfa citizen of the United States, residing at; Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented 5 certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Sewing 'Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference, being had therein to the accompanying drawings. V V This invention relates tosewing machines and especially to the work-advancing mechanism thereof commonly known as the feed.- a

In the application of facings to the neck erations connected with the manufacture of wearing apparel, it is frequently desirable to make two or more rows of stitches along curved lines any two ofwhich are spaced a uniform distance apart, or concentrically in the special ,case-of circular, seaming. This: hasheretoforebeen done in; separate operations first one row of stitches being completed and then another. So fa-ras is known it has never been aecomplishedsatis factorily in a single operation on either widecr narrow gauge multiple needle ma chines. y V The present invention aimsto provider a new form of feeding IDGChaHlSD'lfOI sewing machines employing a plurality of needles whichwvill enable the operator to stitch ona curve in separate rows, each spaced afuniform distancefrom the] adjacent row and number of operationsrequired to finisha garment, l f f a a It aims further ,togprovide} a newv com.- bination of multiple needle stitch-forming mechanism and feeding mechanism which is simple but eflicient in operation and of such a construction thatthe established organizationgof the componentinstrumentalities in a sewing machine may be used in their en tirety, thus attaining the new and useful results sought without sacrifice of any of the advantages inefliciencyrealized bythe development of theart up to the present time.

construction and arrangement of the component parts of the feeding mechanism in which adjustment forfa widerange ofcurvatures of seaming may be made with facility. The construction comprises, broadly through alink operatively connected to a desired y panyingdrawings in which Fig. llis a plan -PO1tlODS Of shlrts and in other similar opconcrete application aofthe invention but :the

two-needle two-vlooper machine ofthe chain- '1 the stitcheson the outside'being longer than g stitch type makingtwo independent sea-ms,

those on the inside, in order to rcducetl e ,ated in any well known. mannelg and the loop- The invention further aims toprovidea stated, work engagingl elements arranged andactuatedto advance the work different distances under each of: a plurality of. I needles. The specific construction comprises a four-motion feeding mechanism including-6 a feed-dog carrying banupon which is;ful-- crumedflatwise a member carrying a number of. serrated, feed-dog]sections which are swung in vunis on in concentric curves rocking lever whose throw maybe variedvasf The invention is illustrated. inthe accom 9 view of a machine showing as much of the 7P mechanism asfis necessary to illustrate the application of the invention thereto. n Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig, 3 is a front elevation of thesame. i FigAeis a detailof'the adjustment mechanism for ,vary-,

ing the curvilinear movement "of the, feeddog and Fig. 5fis a plan viewofthe throatplate and, feed-dog sections withthe latter lShOWIl in solid and dotted linesrespectively at the opposite extremes of its work-advanc- ,3

1 Theprmcipleof the nventlonvls present -V nthegform; of stlie invent on shown vlnv the accompanying. drawings f to illustrate; vone specific embodiment shown islnot to 'be taken as limiting -or constricting the scope. of the Theinventionfis}illustratcdapplied to a I the needles, indicated at H 1,, being secured in another in a clamp?) on a needle-bar3 actu ers,indicated at 4, beingjsecured to loopercarriers 5 which may also beactuated in any suitable manner; A presser foot 6 lwith fiat sole portionis: provided and it is suit? ably apertured inregister with needle-holes Sin a throat-plateQ which issecured to a cross-bar 1O sustained by fixed sta ndardsll rising fro-m the bed-plate lfZcfthe machine c nven nt y a t ta e v e S01 a -I e ry understood the throw of the pin 20 in'the upper free endof the rocking frame and thereby also to vary the throw or feeding movement of a feed-dog carrying bar 21 fulcrumed on said pin 20. Vertical components of motion are imparted to the feed-dog carrying bar 21 by an eccentric 22 on the main-shaft through the agency of a pin and socket connection 23 of a form old in the prior art.

The above described construction is all old and well known and for further informat1on concerning the same reference is hereby 'made to patent to DeVoe' No.

1,085,801, granted Feb. 3, 1914, on the looper operating mechanism and reissue patent to DeVoe, No. 14,218, grantedNov. 28, 1916,

on the four-motion feeding mechanism.

By a shouldered stud-screw 24 a feed-dog plate 25 at one side is fulcrumed on the U- shaped free end26 of a plate 26" screwed at 26 to the feed-dog carrying bar 21 and at its other side this feed-dog plate 25 oarries a ball-ended stud 27 which is connected by the link 28 to a shouldered stud-screw 29 threaded into the upper end of a rock-lever 30 in whose lower end is threaded a shouldered stud screw 31 which is fulcrumed in a fixed part of the frame of the machine.

The rock-lever 30 has a channel 32, see Fi s. 1 and 4, which receives an actuating slideblock 33 swiveled or pivoted on a pin 341 extending laterally from a block 35 whichis adjustable in a vertically disposed channel 36 provided in a guide-post 37 screwed fast 'to and depending-from the plate 26 fixed to the feed-dog carrying bar 21. Adjustment of the block 35 in the channel is effected by turning the screw 38 threaded intothe block and suitably held from axial displacement relative to the feed-dog carrying bar in which it is mounted.

The feed-dog plate 25 carries a plurality of serrated sections or work-engaging members 39 which pass through slots 40 in the The paths in which the individual sections of the feed-dog 'move ,to the paths of the needles is clearly of the drawings.

In the operation of the machine the fulcrum 21 of the feed-dog plate 25 receives four motions in a manner that will be well since the stud-screw 24 is threaded into the feed-dog carrying bar 21. The horizontal components of the four-motion feed are compounded with the curvilinear motion imparted to the feed-dog plate by the link 28 which turns the plate on its fulcrum during the feed movement of the four-motion mechanism. The extent of portrayed in Figs. 1 and 5 curvilinear movement as well as the rate or velocity thereof imparted to the feed-dog plate 25 varies with the position of the actuating slide-block-in the rocker 30, the farther the block 33 is away from the fulcrum 31 stitching on the machine.

relation between the of the rock-lever the less the curvilinear movement and vice versa. This curvilinear movement may be made practically negligible, if desired,.thus permitting straight away Obviously by suitably proportioning the parts different curvilinear movements may be made as great as commercial demands require. 'The depending guide-post 37 being arranged at substantially right angles to the feed-dog carrying bar 21, the swivel pin 34 and block 35 will have substantially the same throw in a horizontal direction (parallel to the plane in which the work is moved) in any position to which the parts may have been adjusted through the screw 38. l/Vhile'the lift of the feed-dog carrying bar acts intermittently to shift the actuating slide-block 33 in the rocker 30 the shifting movement is ne ligible in amount owing to the proximity of the bar 37 to the hinge pin 20 about which about a-fulcrum which is itself moved back and forth, thefeed-dog sections have a resulting movement in a circle, or approximately' in a circleyofa-much greater radius than if the fulcrum-screw 241 was fixed against horizontal movement.

Obviously the feed-dog sections. maybe made to move in curved paths opposite to those illustrated in the drawings by-reversing' the relative location of the fulcrum 24 and actuating link 28.

It will also be noted that the curvilinear -movement of the feed-dog sections may be varied in two ways, through thefeed eccentric 18in the main-shaft and through the shiftable actuating slide block 33. Change inthe curvilinear movement of the feed-dog may thus be effected whether the stitch be long or short. I

lVhile the invention is disclosed in its preferred form it will be distinctly understood that the principle thereof maybe incorporated in metal in a great many ways. As far as the invention is understood at present it contemplates broa'dly speaking theidea of simultaneously moving a plurality of workengaging members, no matter where located or how actuated, difierent effective feeding distances past spaced needles in order to scam on. a curve. And the kind of stitchforming mechanism employed is immaterial as long as thereare two or more needles arranged outof alinement in the direction of feed i. e.,-in the direction of advance of the work. For example "it contemplates the use of a plurality of needles with one or rated sections adapted to engage the work 3 ad acent the respective needles, means for imparting feeding and lifting movements to centric horizontal pathsto'feed the Work in a curved path without distortion; 1 I 2. In a sewing maclnne, 1n combmation,

stitch-forming mechanism including .a plurality of spacedneedles for. making separate rows of stitches, and Work-feed1ng mecharnsm includlng a presser member, and work engaging portions with means for moving thelatt-er up and down into and out of en'- gagement with the material and in separate horizontally curvedpa-ths while-in engagement with the material, whereby a plurality of curved rows of stitching may be made on the machine at the; same time. r

3. In a sewing machine having stitchi forming mechanism including spaced needles, work feeding mechanism including a feed-dog carrying bar, a feed-dog on said her and having a plurality of spaced serthe bar andthe dog thereon, and means for moving said dog in a curved path in parallelism with the plane in which the work is advanced. I v

4:. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism, a" presser-foot, and work advancing mechanism including feed-dog sections, a common carrier for said feed-d0g sections, means for imparting lifting and feeding movements to said sections, and means for compounding with the feeding. movement of said sections, a curvi-.

linear movement infthe plane of movement of the work includlng a fulcrum and an actuatlng member for said carrier .respect1vely on opposite sides of the feed-dog sections,"

and means for operating the actuating member. V V p a 5. In a sewing machine, incombinati o n, stitch-forming mechanism including aplurality of spaced, needles out of alinementin the direction the work is advanced, and means for advancing the work different distances under'each needle including a feeddog carrying bar, means for imparting fourmotions to said feed-dog carrying bar, ser-i rated workadvancing sections, a common support for said serrated sections, a fulcrum. for said common sup-port located at one s de of the needle path, and means for oscillating said common support in sequence with'the four-motion feeding mechanism nwhereby stitches of unequal length may. bev made simultaneously;

In sewing machine,"incombination,

stitch-forming mechanism including a pluralityof spaced needles out ofialinementin the direction the work is advanced, -and v I r i feeding mechanism including a plurality of spaced work; engaging members adapted to engage the. 1 Work adjacent the; irespectivle needles and means for actuating. the same including a four mo-tion mechanism .to which the work engaging members TELPGJIIIL crumed at one sideof the needles, and means for 'actu'atmg sa1d workqengagmg members about the'fulcrum. z

, 7. The Lccombination with stitch-forming v mechanism including a: plurality of needles spaced apart "transversely -:of ,the direction of. seam-formation, of. feeding mechanism including a feed-dog arranged to engage needles, ;means :for impartingv feeding and lifting movements .to' said feed-dog,

means forturning the feed-dog in a planeparallel to the plane of the work during its feedin movement: 7

the sewed work mainly, in reanofuthe c 8. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a plurality of needles spaced apart transversely of the direction of seam-formation, of feeding mechanism including feed-dog sections disposed adjacent the respective needles, means for imparting l fting movements to sa d sections, and means for impartinghorizontally curvedv concentric feeding movements, to said secftions, whereby the work will be ream a curved path without distortion.

9. The. combination with stitch-forming 16 spaced transverselyofthedirecti-onof seamr mech'anism including a plurality of needles formation, of feeding mechanism including a feed-dog having relatively'fixed portions for engaging the work adj aoent the respective needles, means for imparting lifting movements to said feed-dog, and means for moving said feed-dogin the direction of feed and for turning'the' feed-dog in a plane parallel to the plane of'the work during its feeding stroke, thereby feeding the work in a curved path. a, r j

10. Feeding. mechanism for sewing machines comprising a feed-bar, lifting means for imparting rising-and-fa'lling movements to the feed-bar, feeding means for imparting feed-and-return movements to the feed-bar, a feed-dog pivoted at one point on said feedbar to turn in a plane parallelto'the plane of V the work, and. a feed motion multiplying connection between the feed-bar and another point on said feed-dog; e

11, Feeding mechani'smfor sewing ma- V chines comprising, a feed-dog, means for imparting lifting movements to said feed-dog,

and adjustable means for imparting feeding actuatingmeans therefor, a feed-dog pivoted on said feed-bar to swing in-a plane parallel to the plane of the .work, and adustable means driven by said feed-actuating means for swinging said feed-dog relative to the feed-bar during the feeding stroke for curved-line stitching, said means having a range of ad ustinentpermlttlng a Zero swing to be secured for straight-line stitching.

13. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism' including a pair of needles spaced transversely of the direction of seamformation, of feeding mechanism including a plural-section four-motion feed-dog oper- "ating on the Work adjacentsaid needles, and

meansfor turning the feed-dog in a plane parallel with theplaneof the Work and about a centerat one side of the lineof seamformation during the feeding stroke.

14. The combination with a plurality of needles spaced'apart transversely of the difeed dog with means formoving it ina path curved in the plane ofthe work during its feeding stroke, at least a portion of said feeddog being positioned in rear of the needles to engage the Work after it is stitched. V a I 15. The combination with stitch-forming mechanism includinga plurality of needles spaced apart transversely of the direction of seagm formation, of feeding mechanism comprising a four-motion feed-dog having spaced work-engaging portions fixed relatively to one another with means for imparting feeding movements to said feed-dog in a path curved in the-plane of the work during its feedingstroke.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name'to thisspecification.

' I .OALVIN H. L oY.

erection of seam-formation, of a four-motion 

